Prince Harry and Meghan Markle weren't paid for interview - but Oprah's company will profit from it

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey aired on ITV last night (8 March). During the tell-all TV special, the couple revealed what life was like within the royal family - and in doing so made some shocking allegations. Meghan shared with Oprah that she had suicidal thoughts when working as a senior royal, while Harry lifted the lid on his fractured relationships with his father and brother. The pair also made allegations of racism within the royal family, with Meghan saying that an unnamed member had expressed “concerns” about “how dark” Archie, their son, might be. As viewers experienced a personal side of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex that has never been seen before, many were wondering how much the two were paid for the candid chat. Here is everything you need to know. How much did Harry and Meghan get paid for the interview? While CBS paid between $7million and $9million (between £5million and £6.5million) for the licensing rights, according to The Wall Street Journal, Meghan and Harry will actually make no money from the exclusive programme. Instead, it is thought that Oprah’s own production company, Harpo Productions, will benefit from the special broadcast. Before the American talk show host dived in with her questions, she asked Meghan to make it clear that the couple would not be paid a sum for the interview. “Before we get into it, I just want to make it clear to everybody that even though we’re neighbours… that there has not been an agreement,” Oprah said. “You don’t know what I’m going to ask, there is no subject that’s off-limits and you are not getting paid for this interview.” Meghan responded: “That is correct.” CBS’ seven-figure purchase allows the network to license the interview in international markets. In the UK, ITV secured exclusive rights to the interview for a reported £1million. How do Meghan and Harry make money? One of the revelations which came out of the bombshell interview was that Harry said the royal family “literally cut me off financially” in the first quarter of 2020, shortly after the pair stepped back as senior royals. He said that was the reason he and Meghan had signed lucrative deals with entertainment platforms Netflix and Spotify. The Duke of Sussex went on to explain: "All I wanted was enough money to get security and keep my family safe." Both deals were signed between the streaming giants, Archewell Audio and Archewell Productions - Harry and Meghan’s own companies. The major Netflix deal was made public in September 2020 and was thought to be worth over $100million. Meanwhile, Archewell Audio’s Spotify contract was reportedly worth $30million for a multi-year deal. The couple are currently residing in California with Archie, where they have purchased a $14.7 million (£10.6 million) Montecito mansion. How much did Diana leave Harry? During the interview, Harry said that he had money left to him by his late mother, Princess Diana. "Without that, we wouldn't have been able to do this," referring to the family's move to California. “It’s like she saw it coming and she’s been with us through this whole process.” Diana’s money comes in the form of a trust fund, which both Harry and William inherited on their 30th birthdays. It has been reported that the princes were left around £6.5million each when Diana died 23 years ago in a Paris car crash. The substantial sum was then invested by royal advisers, with Harry thought to have received around £10million from the fund in total. Diana also left her sons her priceless jewellery collection. Her estate, worth £21million before inheritance tax, consisted of stocks and shares, jewellery and her multi-million pound divorce settlement from Charles, along with clothing and personal items. Harry and William’s great-grandmother, the Queen Mother, is also thought to have left the princes around £14million between them. It has previously been reported that Harry earned around $40,000 as a helicopter pilot during his time in the Army. Meanwhile, Meghan’s personal wealth is reportedly around $5million, gained from her successful acting career and her prominent role in Suits where she was paid $450,000 (£345,000) per series.